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Supicious Fire Under Investigation

August 20, 2013

by:

Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Department and the Tennessee Bomb and Arson Division are investigating a suspicious fire which occurred Thursday morning, August 15 at 3612 Cookeville Highway, the residence of Doris Colwell and her son Eddie Colwell. Both were reportedly home at the time but were not injured.

Central dispatch was notified at 10:48 a.m.

Members of the Cookeville Highway, Short Mountain Highway, Main Station, and Tanker Truck of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded.

The fire was quickly brought under control apparently without major damage but smoke spread throughout the home.

DeKalb EMS and the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department were also on the scene.

Again, investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, county volunteer firefighters quickly contained a small fire at the residence of Jackie Linder on the McMinnville Highway Monday night, August 19

According to County Fire Chief Donny Green, the structure is a duplex and the fire started in a utility room off the back porch on the side of the duplex where Linder resides. "The fire burned up the wall and got partially into the attic. We pulled the ceiling down from inside and put out the fire in the attic before it could spread to the living quarters," said Chief Green.

The fire caused extensive damage to the utility room. Smoke spread to other areas of the residence, causing minimal damage.

"While the fire is not suspicious, the cause is under investigation," said Chief Green.

Captain Anthony Boyd said while Linder is a resident there, he was not at home when the fire started. His nephew, David Linder was there but he was not injured. The owner of the dwelling is Frazier Weisley, Jr. of Murfreesboro.

Members of the Keltonburg, Belk, and Blue Springs stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded along with the tanker and equipment truck. DeKalb EMS and officers of the Sheriff's Department were also on the scene.